Folding top for vehicles.



N. HOLDEN. FOLDING Tog ron VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 18. 1913.

' Patented July 20, 1915.

NEWTON HOLDEN, OF NEW YORK,

N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO HOLDE. H INQALA CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

FOLDING TOP roe VEHICLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

- Patented July 20, 1915.

Application filed October 18, 1913. Serial No. 795,861.

To all whom it'may concern Be it known that I, NEWTON HOLDEN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certam new and useful Improvements in F oldto make a' folding top with a mg is a specification.

ing Tops for Vehicles, of which the follow- This invention relates vehicles, used on automobile touringcars, wherein it is desirable to have an unobstructed view.

The principal object of this invention is to folding tops for bow in arery simple for'm requiring a mini- "and support for the outrigger bow.

.mum of parts to secure proper folding action To :this end I form'the outrigger bow with a break joint opening downward, and adjatheir free ends with .When the bow is unfolded and fastened in :position over the vehicle the links and the 'ing a modified form for cent to the joint I pivot to the portions of the outrigger bow, links jointed together at a joint opening upward.

portions of the outrigger bow are substantially in alineinent thus forming a rigid construction without any other additional support aside from the fabric of the top itself. In the drawing illustrating this invention, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic elevation illustrating the top as unfolded and fastened in place. Fig. 2 is a similar View of the top folded. Fig. 3 is a diagram of the top detached illustrating the parts in intermediate position. Fig. 4 is a fragmental detail elevational view illustrating the means used "for breaking the joint of the outrigger bow. Fig. 5 is a fragmental detail sectional view illustrating the means used for breaking the joint of the outrigger bow. Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view similar to Fig. 3 illustratuse with larger vehicles. J 7

Referring to Figs. 1 to 5" inclusive, the improved top consists of a main bow 10 to which is pivoted an intermediate bow-11. Extending rearwardly of the intermediate bow is an auxiliary bow 12, and extending forwardly from the intermediate bow is the outrigger bow which extends to the front of the vehicle without obstructing any of the view. This outrigger bow is formed of two portions 13 and l4,'joined or hinged at 15, with a break joint which'breaks downward only. Adjacent to j the joint are pivoted ,to

particularly tops of this character long outrigger each of the portions 13 and 14 the links 1'3 and 17 having'their free ends joined at 18 Wltll a break joint breaking upward only. The length of these links is substantially equal to the distance of their pivots upon the respective portions of the outrigger bow, from the joint 15. 'Pivoted at the joint 18 is another auxiliary how 19 which supports the fabric between the intermediate bow and the end of the outrigger. The latter is fastened down and held in place by any suitable means. Preferably I fasten the same to the wind shield 20 or to some projection extending from the same.

When the top is unfolded and fastened as shown in Fig. 1, the links 16 and 17 come into substantial alinement with the portions 13 and 14: of the outrigger bow forming a rigid unit from the end of the outrigger :bow to its point of connection with the in termediate how. The tension of rial downward upon the auxiliary bow 19 tends to depress the joint 18 and thus raise the joint 15, as will be readily understood.

To facilitate tho-unfolding of the top, I

provide 'means for breaking the joints 15 and 18, opening the former downward and the latter upward to make-it possible for the operator to finish the folding by simply throwing backward the forward portion 14 of the outrigger bow. This means consists preferably of a rotatable member, as a cam 21 journaled upon a boss 22 extending preferably from one of the portions of the outrigger bow as the portion 13. This cam is rotated by a handle 23 extending to a suitable point within reach of the operator and engages'the opposing link 16 to raise the same suiiiciently to open ward and' the joint 15 downward, whereupon the'further unfolding may be accornplished by throwing over the outrigger bow sons 39 and 40 at the other side of their PoItIa'MAN TOP COMPANY,

the mate-' the joint 18 upbow 32 and extending forjoint and to the ends of these links are pivoted the auxiliary bows 4:1 and 42. Through 'this construction providing for one additional auxiliary bow, greater length of the outrigger may be used While still securing proper supffort for the material.

If the vehi'cleis not supplied with a wind- "shield, a'special'support may be formed for the top which may also be attached to the dashboard substarially in the same-manner as the wind shield is attached. This-supportmay consist ofa foot 43 pivoted to the end of the forward portion of the outrigger and swinging backward out of the way when the top is folded. i

.It will thus ,be seen that I have provided a folding top which is simple in construction and requires a minimum of parts to secure the proper support of the outrigger how when unfolded and to obtain. an easy folding action.

Various modifications may be resortedto without departing from the scope of the invention, as set forth in the accompanying claims.-

j Having thus described my invention, I

claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A folding top for vehicles comprising a main bow, an intermediate bow and an outrigger bow extending from the intermediate bow, said outrigger bow having a break joint opening downward at an intermediate point thereof, links pivoted to the port-ions of the intermediate bow adjacent its break joint, said links being jointed together with a joint opening upward only, an auxiliary bow pivoted to the links at their joint and means for securing the forward portion of the outrigger bow in unfolded position.

2.-A folding top for vehicles comprising a main bow, an outrigger bow extending forwardly freely therefrom, said outrigger bow being formed witlra break-joint opening downward at a point intermediate the ends thereof, links pivoted to the portions of theoutrigger bow at each side of the break joint, said links having their free en'dscone 'nected with a stop joint opening upward only, said links being of a length such as to' come into substantial alinement' with the outrigger bowj when the top is set up.

3. A folding top for vehicles comprising a main bow, an outrigger bow extending forwardlytherefrom, said outriggerbow being formed with a break joint intermediate its ends opening downward, links pivoted to the portions of the outrigger bow adjacent to the" break joint at each side thereof, said links b'eing jointed together with a break joint opening upward only and the length of said links being substantially equal to the distances of their points of connection with the outrigger bow to the break oint thereof, said links being adapted .to come into substantial alineinent with the outrigger the outrigger bow to the breakjoint thereof,

said links being adapted to come into substantial alinement with the outrigger bow when the same is unfolded, an auxiliary bow -mounted upon the links and means for breaking the joints of the outrigger bow and the links to secure theinitial unfolding.

5. A=fo1ding top for vehicles comprising a main bow, tin-outrigger bow extending forwardly therefrom, said outrigger bow being formed with a break joint intermediate its ends opening downward, links pivoted to the portions; of the outriggerbow adjacent to the break joint at each side thereof, said.

links being jointed together with a break joint opening upwardonly andthe length of said links being substantially equal. to the distances of their points of connection with i the outrigger bow to the break j oint thereof,"

said links being. adapted. td'coine into. suba 1. when the same is unfolded, an auxiliary-bow:

stantial alinement with the outrigger bow.

mounted upon. thelinks and a cam mounted uponon'e of the members of the quadruple formed by the outrigger bow and the links for breaking the joints to secure .thelinitial unfolding. f j

S gned at New .York,'.in the countybf New York and State of New York, this 6th day of October, A. D. 1913.

. NEWTON: HOLDENQ' Witnesses:

WM.'-I. Conan, SYLVIA SToR'rI; 

